THE GIVING LIFE: The Responsibility
Review from Week 1: THE GIVING LIFE: THE RESOURCE
King David’s perspective about God from 1 Chronicles 29
#1: Bless God as the SOURCE of all true, good, and wonderful things.
“Blessed are you… all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” 1 Chronicles 29:10,11 ESV
#2: Praise God as the GIVER of all true, good and wonderful things.
“And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13 ESV
#3: Admit God is the OWNER of all true, good, and wonderful things.
“For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 ESV
#4: Offer to God JOYFULLY of all true, good, and wonderful things.
“Your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.” 1 Chronicles 29:17 ESV
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Week 2: THE GIVING LIFE: THE RESPONSIBILITY
How can we learn to FAITHFULLY manage our responsibilities well?
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David asked God to help his son Solomon manage his responsibility.
19 “Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” 1 Chronicles 29:19 ESV
God gave Solomon wisdom to manage all of his responsibilities well.
23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls. Proverbs 27:23-27 ESV
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1. Ask God to REVEAL the current condition of your own life.
Know well the condition of your flocks… Proverbs 27:23 ESV
The current condition of my “being:”
Body (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
Mind (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
Spirit (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
30 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 ESV
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52 ESV
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The current condition of my “relating:”
Love (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
Family (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
Community (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:19-21 ESV
The current condition of my “doing:”
Money (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
Work (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
Hobbies (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
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2. Obey God’s INSTRUCTIONS to properly attend to your own life.
And give attention to your herds… Proverbs 27:23 ESV
If the whole of me is in Christ, so are the parts of me.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 ESV
If the whole of me is owned by Christ, so are the parts of me.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV
The current instructions that I am following:
Body (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Mind (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Spirit (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Love (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Family (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Community (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Money (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Work (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
Hobbies (my way) 1 2 3 4 5 (God’s way)
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Keep it simple. Am I faith “less” or faith “full”?
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV
STEWARDSHIP: God is the owner of all things and has called us to be faithful managers of all of the responsibilities entrusted to us.
“Fundamentally, stewardship is about exercising our God-given dominion over His creation, reflecting the image of our creator God in His care, responsibility, maintenance, protection, and beautification of His creation.” R.C. Sproul, How Should I Think About Money?
Stewardship Example: 3* steps to begin faithfully managing money.
1. Avoid Debt
2. Seek Counsel
3. Absolute Honesty
(*There are more steps; this is just an example of some initial steps from the Book “Your Money Counts” by Howard Dayton.)
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3. Trust God’s CAPACITY to adequately provide for your own life.
There will be enough goats’ milk for your food… Proverbs 27:27 ESV
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